5 Freeway To Shut Down Nightly For Bridge Construction

LOS ANGELES CA — Nightly freeway closures set to last for three weeks will kickoff in Burbank Tuesday as part of a Caltrans project to build a bridge and interchange for a carpool lanes on the Golden State (5) Freeway.

All southbound lanes of the 5 Freeway running through Burbank will be closed overnight to accommodate bridge construction. The closures will typically being at 11:59 p.m. and the freeway will reopen at 4 a.m. in time for the morning commute. The closures will take place between Empire Avenue and Magnolia Boulevard.

Caltrans is urging drivers to use the southbound San Diego (405) Freeway as an alternate route.

The work is scheduled for completion June 19, according to the California Department of Transportation.

The department warned that closures may be subject to change. Based on low traffic volume closures may start earlier and end later. Updates can be found at my5la.com, where motorists can sign up for alerts, or on Twitter at @my5la.

Crews plan to lift 90-foot girders above the freeway at Burbank Boulevard, where a bridge and interchange are being constructed for a carpool lanes project by Caltrans, Metro and the city of Burbank. The new bridge is expected to open for traffic before the end of 2021.

Some ramps in the area also will be closed, with detours posted, as early as 9 p.m. and not reopening until 6 a.m.

Other alternate routes include the southbound Hollywood (170) Freeway or exiting the freeway at Hollywood Way.

Exiting the southbound 5 Freeway at Buena Vista Street or Empire Avenue/San Fernando Blvd is not recommended except for local traffic.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.